Police: 12-year-old Watched As Her Father Shot Mother

Miramar Girl Says Dad Shot Her In Arm When She Tried To Intervene

A horrified 12-year-old girl watched her father kill her mother in Miramar this week, and was shot by him when she tried to stop him, according to a police report released Friday.

The girl, whose name was not revealed by police, told investigators that her parents, Dervis L. Lawrence, 39, and Odover Laird, 29, began arguing in the driveway of their home in the 3000 block of Southwest 173rd Way around 8 p.m. Thursday. She said she heard gunshots and, from the top of the stairs, saw Lawrence repeatedly firing a gun at Laird as she tried to get away.

The girl said her father shot her in the upper right arm when she grabbed his arm to stop him from shooting her mother, according to the arrest report.

Lawrence is being held without bail in the Broward Main Jail on one count of premeditated murder and one count of felony attempted murder.

Police responding to the scene found the 12-year-old outside. They arrested Lawrence as he walked out of the house, according to the report. He said something to the arresting officer, but police deleted the remark from the report.

Laird was pronounced dead at the scene.

The daughter was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood. Her injury was not life-threatening, officials said.

Miramar police spokeswoman Tania Rues said the argument was over money.